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A. C. JOHNSON.

Patentd Aug 15, 19%

Zi a Z 2 i fill'h laying-f la-action UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED C. JOHNSON, OF VINTERS, CALIFORNIA.

CHAIN.

Liilfi fi.

Appiieaiien Filed May :3

f l: "75 wile}?! i"; Be il. l unvrz l'li: HUN, citizen of the lfhiled j residing at \Vinters, in the counly ol Yolo and Stale of 5 California. have invented new and useful Improvements in 'haiusl of which the fol-- loving is a 5; \it ieatiit n.

E lllo lawn ion r-; all o a chain, and par ticulai'ly to a trawl. chain Slbi'll is used on enp mee, I of the present invent n is to provide a nple, s lustautial, kz lijr" asaemhled chain of the character descri'fied which so WUflL'teIl that the l nks in. the erclumgi-d to be (hie oi the wil seual'iled anal repaired. and that, it he made as It is also -.i

railing .iii elle,

e {hue minimum evenues of the {n muplo 'e'l in or *eseul chain are ll alum and ier and each link 2 builtup of lhlf iif' 'l' hich in turn are e and lliml'flllllig. Jln,

' 1 which are side (if the eide ,.L, P i ll V l, each and 'The forming in Elpccificzitiun at Lettera Patent bolt hole which Patented Aug. 15, 1 916.

Serial No. 30,327.

vi a plurality of connected plates, when the chain is assembled, as will hereinafter be described. Formed on the upper edge of the plate is a rail flange l, and formed on each side of the plate is a circular-shaped boss 5, in which is centrally forn'led a bolt hole 6. The lower edge of the plate serves as a seat "for a grouser 0r shoe, such as indicated at 7 and the edge of the plate is shaped to fit the inner contour of the shoe."

Each link in the chain consists of two 0011- nelted side plates, such as indicated in Figs. 1 and. 2, and the. bhoe is secured crosswise of mid plates by means of two bolts, one for each plate in the link and these bolts are em iled to the plates in the lbllowing manner: The lower (d 1- of ach plate is enlarged, as al 9 a. provided with a central igozuzauuicates with an opening ll formed in each plate. The bolts pass through openinge El) and are seeured by nub; l2 placed in openings it. Each link, compr' c" two z-nnneeled side plaic is conaected with the alley t lug link by a pin 13 lar i l. the func ion o which will be later ucecri 'ml,

The chain.- as a whole is assemhled as lul mvs A ,side plate is; first placed in the. poaitlon indicated at l5 in Fi 3. Two pins l3, alcu as indi ated in Fig. 5 a e then inserted through the bearing extensions 2 in the direction of arrow (1. leaving the rental collar section ll flush with the outer face of the bearing extensions A second side plate such as indicated at US, i then ulipped on the extending ends 1? ol' pins l and the two side pl: tea are s cured together by means of a hell 1% inseed thnimgh the, bolt holes (3 and a sleeve l Plaid sleeve is held in spaced relation to 5m bolt as it is supported on the circalax-shaped hoaxes 5; the sleeve being: provided for the PRU'PHSE of maintaining; a fixed spaced reallun between the plates. link is formed or built up in a manner sunl- ,lar to that just described, with the exception that the side platsv are reversed in, poailiou to bring the bearing; extensions Q i-xteriorl of the bearing extensioi'ls of plates 3..- and in. After the plates are applied. they are aecured by means of the bolt 18 and thes tiac'ing sleeve. The annular shoulders l-i with which the pins are provided serve waver between the bearing extensilms The succeeding:

of the adjoining links.

links are with pins Male and female thus built up in successive order 13 and spacing sleeves interposed to connect and space the links apart. After a suitable number of links has been as sembled, it. is possible to apply the grousers 7. This is accomplished by passin a bolt through the grouser and the bolt iole 10, and nut 12 is then placed in the opening 11 and screwed onto the inner end of the bolt. A second nut is then applied ontlie outer end ot' the bolt and the gronser or shoe is in this manner thoroughly secured; two bolts being provided for each shoe. Any suitable torn) of shoe ma y be provided in the present instance, but the most preferable form is a shoe that is provided with extensions or corrugations :21 of sutlicient height to practically cover the outer nuts which se cure the shoes on the links.

A simple, practical, flexible endless traction member for supporting and driving a traction engine is thus formed which is strong, durable and economical to manufacture, being easily assembled or taken apart tor repair or other purposes. The provision of the annular shoulder H on the bearing pins is of considerable in'iportance as it not only forms a spacer between the outer ends of the side plates, but also serves as a means tor intermittently turning the several pins. This turning movement is transmitted when the chain passes over the driving sprocket (not here shown). The face of the collar, when sliding down the side of a tooth, causes the pin to turn. The intermittent turning of the pin constantly changes its position in the bearings 2 thereby preventmg any one side of a pin from becoming worn or flattened out at an particular point, The central collar, furthermore, eliminates the need of cotter pins or like devices for securing it against dropping out endwise.

The present form of only elevates the pivotal chain to a certain extent surface where they are kept comparatively clean, but the corrugations or projections 21 formed on the face 01 the particularly in soft or sandy grounth to give a. maximum tractive elllciency and at the same time protects the nuts at the securing bolts from injury and wear. The side plates from which the links of the chain are constructed are not only reversible and interhangeablc, but may also be used to form either the made or female links of the chain.

The materials and finish of the several ca ts as" the device are such as the expert and judgment of the manufacturer may .a-iaic.

It wish it understood that various changes n term, proportions and minor details of .inction may be resorted to within the shoe. provided not connections of the above the ground sign and construction here sh shoes all act,

scope of the appended claims, and that I do not wish to limit myself to the specific deown.

aving thus described my invention, what claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A chain link consisting of two separable side plates, a bearing member formed roller centrally formed thereon extending 7r through each set of bearing members, said roller forming a spacer between the bearing members on the o )posite plates, and means for securing the plates together.

2. A chain. link consisting of two sepsi rable side plates, a bearing member formed on each end of each plate, a pin having a members on the opposite plates, means for securing the plates together, said means comprising a bolt extending through the side plates of the link, and. a. s iiacing sleeve interposed between the plates and surrounding the bolt.

3. A track chain link con'lprising two arable reversible side plates, a rail flange formed on the upper edge of each plate, a bearing member formed on each end of each plate, a pin having a roller centrally formed thereon extending through each set of bearing ll'lQHllJGl'S, said roller forming a spacer between the bearing members, and means for securing the plates together. i

4. A track chain link comprising two separable side plates, a rail flange 't'ormed on the upper edge of each plate. a bearing member formed on each end of each plate, a pin having a roller centrally formed thereon extending through each set of bear ing members, said roller forming a spacer between the bearing members, means for securing the plates together, and a corrugated shoe secured to the plates of the link.

5. A track chain link comprising two separable side plates, a rail flange formed on the upper edge of each plate, a bearing member formed on each end of each plate, a pin having a roller centrally formed thereon extending through each set of bearing memhers, said roller forming a spacer between the caring members, means for securing the plates together, a shoe mounted cross wise of each set of plates forming a. link, a 120 seat formed on the lower edge of each plate to support the shoe, and a bolt eXte-ntling' through the seat on each plate and the shoe to secure the shoe.

6. In a track. chain, a freely rotatable 5 caring pin, and a roller secured on the pin midway of its ends and adapted to eii'ect rotation of the pin when riding a tooth of a. supporting sprocket.

7. In a track chain, a link plate having 39 sepan offset formed at:each end and in alinement with the body of the plate, and a bearing extension oneach offset section on the other-side. .1,;

81,111 a track chain, a link consisting of two side plates, said plates being reversible to form; alternate male and female links, means for-securing each pair of side plates v t0g'ether,-said means comprising a bolt exoffset ends-of the plate, and a seat onthe. lower edge of thefplate, said seat having acentral opening foamed therein.

10. The combination with a pair of link plates offset at eaeh end and provided with a bearingextension on.,eaeh end, of a pin extending through the bearing members,

having an enlarged eeytral circular shoul der formed thereon t9 space the bearing members apart and to turn the pin, and a bolt centrally disposed between the bearing members, to secure the plates together.

11. In a track chain, a link plate having an opening therethrough, a seat on the lower edge of the plate provided with an opening communicating with the plate opening, a shoe engaged on the seat, and a fastener for the shoe passing through the seat opening and including a nut arranged within the first opening of the plate.

12. In a track chain, a link comprising a pair of side plates provided with openings in their ends, a pin freely rotatable in the plate opening and adapted to couple adjacent links together, said plates being free for separable movement on the pin, a roller fix'ed oncthe pin between the side plates, and

means spaced from the pin forholding the thereon against separation.

In testimony whereof I'have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subseribing ,witnesses.

LHD. Hoeaex, J; H. MoCoLmUeH, Jr. 

